Here’s today’s news briefs:
Pompeo to testify before Congress
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was among the officials who listened in on the July 25 phone call between President Trump and Ukraine’s president. The revelation that the President was joined by others in the administration creates cracks in a Democrat narrative that Trump had gone “rogue.” Pompeo’s participation on the call was one of several developments related to the controversy that centers on Trump’s urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to cooperate with Rudy Giuliani, Mr. Trump’s personal attorney, and Attorney General William Barr on investigations into possible illegal activity by the son of former Vice President Joe Biden.
Protester shot with live round in Hong Kong
Police shot a protester in the chest with a live round in Hong Kong as tens of thousands of protesters staged counter rallies to China’s massive National Day Communist celebration despite a virtual lockdown in the city. The territory experienced some of the most widespread scenes of violence in decades as protesters dialed up verbal attacks against China’s Communist Party.
Lawmakers issue order to preserve evidence that whistleblower law form was changed
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) and other house lawmakers this week issued a preservation order for all evidence and records connected to changes made to the whistleblower form.
In a letter addressed to Inspector of the Intelligence Community General Michael K. Atkinson on Sept. 30, Republican Reps. Nunes, Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) asked for the preservation of all evidence linked to secret revisions made to rules submitted to the office.
“[The] timing of the removal of the firsthand information requirement raises questions about potential connections to this whistleblower complaint,” the letter reads.
“This timing, along with numerous apparent leaks of classified information about the contents of this complaint, also raise questions about potential criminality in the handling of these matters.”
Websites warned to stop selling opioids
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have sent joint warning letters to four online networks operating a total of 10 websites, for illegally selling and misbranding opioid medicines.
The four networks—Divyata, Euphoria Healthcare Pvt Ltd., JCM Dropship, and Meds4U—were warned to “immediately stop their illegal sales” of opioids, according to the FDA.
Top Iranian general: Israel must be “wiped of the map.”
The commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said that destroying Israel is an “achievable goal” and that any enemies of Iran will face a “harsh reaction.”
“This sinister regime must be wiped off the map and this is no longer … a dream (but) it is an achievable goal,” Major General Hossein Salami said, according to AFP.
His comments, which are not uncommon among Iranian officials, come amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran regarding its controversial nuclear program and attacks on Saudi oil facilities that Washington has blamed on Tehran.
He said that for decades, Tehran has “managed to obtain the capacity to destroy” Israel, according to the news agency.
–Metro Voice and wire services
